ce)

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1935

No. 1

SEP

Peary cerns,

UNITED FRONT VICTORY IN-B.C.

rn ponsad Relief for Expectant Mothers Won Thru
Lengthy Struggle

Five dollars per month extra for expectant mothers who
‘on relief will be granted by the Provincial Government
43.C. A new relief order effective immediately also states
‘t “all municipalities employing relief labor will be required
Gay wages of 40 cents per hour. Any municipalities who
i¢i0t will be refused any contributions towards their relief
as by the Provincial Government,” according to the state-
+ of Hon. Geo. Pearson, Minister of Labor, issued Janu-
10, 1935.
This shows what the united front of the working class
-| accomplish. The Communist and Socialist workers united
the end of last year and organized a wide all-embracing
¢ipaign for struggle against unemployment in British
© umbia. Some of the leading members of the
GG. F. of the Socialist Party, and of the Com-
“nist Party worked like trojans in organizing that
s4ipaign and mobilizing the workers to action. The workers
sponded in great numbers, and endorsed the united front
yitarrying out the campaign, The results have shown what
2 be accomplished, if the workers unite and fight as one
< their demands. The regrettable feature in connection
#h the whole of this is that the United Front was broken
eiterminated immediately after the delegation visited the
@vernment Cabinet by the leading members of the C.C.F.
He need for unity is not terminated; it is more essential
ffm ever.
‘No government of the Capitalist Class will live up to
| promises if the workers are divided. As the Federal elec-
a approaches, the Liberals and the Tories will vie with
th other from now till the election, and where demogogy
Snot sufficient to hoodwink the workers, then small con-
misions will be granted, especially where the workers are
J.ermined to gain better conditions for themselves and their
@nilies. They will take these concessions away just as
qickly, and just as surely if the workers do not maintain
liv united stand to hold them and gain more. The militant
rkers throughout the length and breadth of Canada are
sparing to attack the Bennett Government early in Febru-
17 to demand Unemployment Insurance at the expense of
Capitalists and the State. This can be won too, provided
= workers and their natural allies, the laboring formers,
Site solid enough to wrench it from the employing class.
| say that this cannot be won under Capitalism is so much
‘alism, and as much as saying that Capitalism will last
‘aver. It is true that it cannot be won with the workers
i ily divided against themselves. Sooner or later the workers
il have to unite in struggle against capitalism. Why put
i off any longer? The small concessions gained from the
9 ovincial Government may seem small in themselves, but
}2y are substantial to the mothers who are affected. These
§orkers must be made to realize that unity in struggle
jined these demands, and greater concessions can be wou
drough a firmer, broader united front of the working class.

|\5.5.R. DELEGATES RETURNED
CALL FOR A SOVIET CANADA

housands Turn Out to Hear Report of Local
Men Returned From Russia

a
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‘e

By “B.C. WORKERS NEWS” REPORTER 2

Sunday, Jan. 13th, 1935—“Jammed full” was the expres-
on that sent hundreds of workers scurrying from the
uditorium (holding 2,500 people) to the Elks Hall, which
as hired to accommodate the overflow, and even then hun-
-eds were turned away disappointed. The capitalist press
Imitted to the fact that 5,000 people turned out on a bitterly
ld night to hear the report of the TRADE UNION DELE-
ATION just returned from the Soviet Union. The magnetic
ower of the land of Socialism, where workers rule supreme,
just have gripped the imagination of thousands more work-
*s in Vancouver who did not have the wherewithal to find
le necessary carfare.
The quiet expectancy and the extraordinary sympathy
hich existed between the audience and the reporting dele-
ates, none of whom had previous training in public speak-
ig, showed the desire for “cut the trimmings’’—sive us
ucts. The frequent bursts of applause to some particularly
tated achievement and the ready response of the audience
> humorous anecdotes demonstrated that the audience was
re-eminently working class, intensely interested in their
lass achievements.

“The whole tone of the delegates.a day; men’s wages better, but
fas one of enthusiasm over the facts| totally inadequate. All worked 12
aey gave refzarding the actual] hours and more a day. Workers

were at the merey of employment
sharks, who robbed them right and
left.

Today, women drive winch, a job
they were never before permitted to
do, sweep screens and do all the
light work. The men get, when
needed, free dust goggles, aprons,
eloss. ete. Universal 7-hour day on

yorking and living conditions of the
tussian workers. Asked point blank
4 which country they would prefer
D live, they stated, that whilst the
onditions of the workers were much
etter in the U-.S.S-B., they were de-
ermined to live here and WORK
°OR A SOVIET CANADA.

Tom Russell Speaks on

Longshoringe waterfront for general cargo work,
6-hour day for dusty and extra
Tom Russell, elected delegate of = - 2
= ae heavy cargo. Wo overtime is al-
he Vancouver and District Water- Z .
lowed. Iwo weeks’ holiday yearly

rent Workers’ Association, was the

Ere With full pay. Loading wheat gangs
irst to take the platform. He opened

(dusty) get 4 weeks’ holidays a year
with full pay. <All covered with in-

vith a report of conditions on the
tussian waterfront in pre-revolution-
ry days, kef which his geuide in-
ormed hing, Women used to pack
arso for the equivalent of 12 cents

surance. All get pension of full pay
at the age of 55. Hree sanitoria for

(Continued on Page 2)

Eleven Years Without Lenin

analysis has been fully confirmedo Lenin Died, But His Teachings

On January 2ist the International<
working class will commemorate the
eleventh anniversary of the death of
the great teacher an dleader of the
world proletarian revolution, V. I.
Thenin; a name which penetrated to
millions of working people, not only
in Europe and America, but in all of
the colonial countries of Asia and
Africa. They, with great determina-
tion are carrying forward the strug-
gle against their imperialist rulers
for their own emancipation.

In the Soviet Union, one hundred
and seventy million toilers commem-—
orate the death of Lenin with tre-
mendous victories, moving forward
to a Socialist, Glass-less Society, free
from exploitation and oppression by
the capitalist class. This emancipa-
tion was made possible only through
the October Revolution of 1917. The
eombined struggles of the workers
and peasants under the leadership
of the Communist (Bolshevik) Party
and VY. I. Lenin, overthrew the im-
perialist bourgeoisie and established
the proletarian dictatorship—rule of
the oppressed and exploited people
over the oppressors and exploiters.

For the first time in history Lenin
concretely showed the path of eman-
cipation for the whole human race.
Lenin, a true disciple of Marx and
Engels, uncompromisingly fought
against every kind of opportunism,
against the agents of the bourgeoisie
whether in the labor movement or
not against the Second International,
because he fore;saw that their policy
would eventually lead to open be-
trayal of the working class. This

for the last twenty years. Without
this struggle against the Menshe-
viks and social revolutionaries, it
would have been impossible to seize
power in 1917.

With the outbreak of the World
war and thse open betrayal of the
working class by the social demo-
eratie parties, who called upon the
workers of the respective countries
not to fight against war but to rally
to the defense of the fatherland,
the Party of Lenin, the Communist
(Bolshevik) Party was the only one
which adhered to revolutionary
Marxism. They led the struggle
against imperialist war and for the
defeat of its own ruling class which
they subsequently brought about in
1917. While the imperialist war was
being carried on, Comrade Lenin was
jnstrumental in having two confer-
ences called in Switzerland of left
wing sSocialsts, and with the support
of Liebknecht and Luxemburg, the
basis was laid for a struggle against
imperialist war. After the victorious
October Revolution n Russia and af-
ter the defeat of revolutions in a
number of European countries (these
defeats being chiefly due to the sup-
port rendered the bourgeoisie by the
social democratic parties), Lenin
once more proposed a- “complete split
with the social reformsts and for the
formation of the Third Communist
International—a united, world, work-
ing class party, based on revolution-
ary principles, to carry forward the
Struggle agaist capitalism and for
a socialist society.

Live

It is eleven years since the hear
and brain of the greatest leader since
Marx and Engels ceased to function.
Millions of toilers’ hearts stopped
beating momentarily when they
heard that Lenin was dead. Every
year since his death, new thousands
of workng people follow the path
laid by Lenin which alone can eman-
cipate the human race from fascist
murder and imperialist slaughter.

Lenin died, but his work is con-
tinued by the party which he built.
The Communist (Bolshevik) Party of
the Soviet Union, headed by his best
disciple Comrade Stalin, leads the
toilers of the Soviet Union from vic-
tory to victory. The struggle against
the right and left deviators con-
tinues; and against all who fight
against the line of the Party and who
in one way or another conspire to
restore capitalism since they were
defeated by the mighty force of the
working class and collective peas-
antry. The working class of the
whole capitalist world has its own
independent leadership in the Com-
munist International, with its sec-
tons, the Communist Parties. These
exist in all the capitalist countries.
They are rallying millions of work-
ing people for struggle against the
economic offensive of the bourgeoisie,
against the twin menace of fascism
and war, and for the revolutionary
way out of the capitalist crisis—for

(Continued Next Week)

SAYS NATIONAL
LUNCH SLAVE PEN

Food Workers’ I. Union
Call for Some Drastic
Organization

We are in receipt of a letter from
a worker who was formerly employed
at the National Cafe in Vancouver.
This worker sent his complaint to
the Minimum Wage,Board, but up
to going to press has received no
and being a foreign born
the Board has passed the
buck and evaded the issue.

Part of the letter reads as follows:
“The meals of the employees at the
Watienal Lunch consist of: Break
fast, mush, two eggs, any style;
bread; tea, coffee or milk. They are
served as customers, because if they
were allowed to help themselves they
would no doubt pick up something
better.

Dinner and ‘supper
soup, beef or stew, salad, liver, hash
or anything that is cheap, tea, cof-
fee or milk; free pudding, but they
are not allowed to have any pie. They
such things as pork

redress,
worker,

consists of

cannot get

©chops, roast pork or beefsteak.

The girls, who are fed on these
cheap meals, haye to carry huge
piles of dishes, and are so speeded
up that they are played out long
before quitting time, and can hardly
kick open the kitchen doors. The
boss has a slimy way of firing them,
by giving them two weeks holiday,
but when they return to work they
are told that their places are filled.
He does this with those who cannot
work fast enough.

The workers in the basement and
in the kitchen toil from ten to
twelve hours per shift. It is alleged
that these workers are entered in
the bosses’ books as part-time work-
ers in order to fool the government
investigator, Many of the workers
jn the kitchen are childrén of 14 and
15 years of age, and the boss pays
them little or nothing, because he
claims that they are inexperienced;
but as soon as they become experi-
enced, he fires them. The foreman
buys the cheapest of foodstuffs for
the restaurant, and bullies the work-
ers and izeeps telling them that they
should work four times as hard as
they do at present. He gets his
orders from the boss and his wife,

who are in attendance each day to

B.C. COAL MINERS
WIN VICTORIES

Consolidate Gains Thru
Better Organization
of Forces

rinceton coal miners, who belong
to the Mine Workers Union of
Canada, haye recently signed a new
agreement with the Tulameen Min-
ing Company. The committee to ne-
gotiate the new agreement was com-
posed of young miners, and thus the
company officials felt that they
could bamboozle them into accepting
a worse agreement than they form-
erly had. They found out, however,
that the miners were solid behind
the committee and eventually the
company had to sigm an agreement
which was practically as presented
by the committee. The agreement
Gave some of the miners increased
wages amounting to 15 and 20 cents
per day. It restricted the activities
of the company officials, and bettered
the conditions for the miners.

Cumberland miners have made

(Continued on Page 3)

(Continued on Page 2)

OPEN LETTER TO OUR SUPPORTERS

The “B.C. Workers News”
this opportunity in the first issue of
the paper to thank its many sup-
porters throughout British Columbia
for their efforts in making possible
this publication. It has only been
possible to publish such a paper
through the efforts of the workers
and poor farmers of this’ province
and likewise will only be Possible to
continue by the same means. Every
person who has contributed to the
fund or worked in the campaign has
helped in their own way to further
this cause, and we feel this
support so far given is only a slight
indication of what is ready and wait-
ing for this first issue of the paper.

sure

The appearance of the “B.C:
Workers News’ marks an historic-
ally important day in the class

battles which are constantly taking
on 3 more decisive character, direci-
ing us towards our ultimate goal.
While realizing that many of those
who have purchased certificates and
in other ways contributed to the
fund to lay the foundation for this

t —~

takes

able sacrifice, we believe that a
large percentage of those Supporters
will again rally to the call for sub-
seribers and flood the office with
orders.
Since
Jaunched

first
our

the was

in April,

campaign
1934, move-
passed through many

ef which could have

ment has
struggles, any
been materially benefitted by having
Workers
News" supporting them. WNeverthe-
less the more necessity for such a
paper is mot sufficient to start pub-
lication; there must be a thoroughly
organized apparatus to build and
maintain circulation, contribute mna—
solicit adyertis-

such a paper as the “B.C.

terial for the paper,
jue, and above all, raise finances to
paper.
not eligible for subsidies as are the
this latter task

undertaken

maintain the Since we are

capitalist Sheets,

must be seriously by
an uninterrupted publication. .
The committees which Haye been

the work of the cam-

Carrying out

~~

paper, have done so at a consider-~ paign

every reader if we are to contmne

the districts
throughout B.C., in the majority of
cases are to be congratulated on the
results obtained up to the present
and all the supporters are to be
complimented on their patience in
for this first of
course the real satisfaction will be
felt with the continued appearance
of the paper, which up to now could
have expected
and will only be possible on the basis
of future support as previously
mentioned,

in various

walting. issue.

not been reasonably

Let us now
pective

y certificate holder and a bundle
from every organization; then,
if every subscriber gets one more
friend to subscribe we will haye bath
feet planted firmly on the yoad pee)
a permanent “B-C. Workers ews?
with possibilities as yet unthoucht

go forward with a

per, ef a subscription from

=
cCyver
i=)

Let :
ers News” $b every worker.

—Business Manager:

&

in

PERCY BENGOUGH SUSPENDS

Progressives Should Demand Re-instatement

In concurrence with the policy of President William Green
of the A. F. of L. and with the help of the defeated reaction-
ary officials of the Union, Secretary Bengough and President
McDonald of the Vancouver Trades and Labor Council, re-
voked the charter of the Shingle Weavers Union Local 17813,
and suspended their officers, who were elected at the annual

and with the demands of
from taking any strike action against the mill owners on the
other hand, was forced to resign his position.
Immediately, Dave Thomas, Bengough’s
secretary, moved to vote on whether we should elect a ‘chair-
man for the balance of the year or whether the vice-presi-
dent, H. Pritchett, should fill the position. Pritchett had
proved his capabilities by leading the shingle weavers in
numerous strikes against the mill operators and their de-
spicable tools. The vote was carried by a
for Pritchett to fill the position of president.

At the last meeting in December,® At this meeting the executive com-
when nominations closed for section | mittee were ordered to call 2 wage

of officers for the New Year, re-
cording secretary Lockart and finan-
cial secretary Dave Thomas declined
the nomination whilst the other
members nominated, accepted. Presi-
Pritchett; A. Grant for
aon wee a : = i conference was called at the La
vice-president; V. Carlisle for finan-
: is Temple and when the work
cial secretary; ©. Nicholls for record- }
i showed up they were refused
ing secretary, and W. St. Pierre for ae re
rs mission by the janitor, who was =
guardian, all of whom were militant : i
(Continued on Page 3) Ie

industry, @
manager of one of thre

a new scale for the
Withall,

even lower than the present one, T

workers.

B.C. UNEMPLOYED PREPARING -
FOR FEBRUARY CONGRESS

the Working Class

Unemployed workers of this Province are preparing

&

signed by 36,000 persons and presented to the Pattullo cabinet by a joint
delegation from the Provincial Workers’ Council on Unemployment and the
C.C.F. Unemployment Conference. Besides the petition which was for
50 per cent increase in relief and adequate medical and hospital attention,
the workers are also adding to the demands of the petition, the central
tributory

Unemployment Insurance.

in linking up every demand and local struggle with the main demand for
Full and Free Insurance.

allowance for four months, providing they produce a doctors certificate
what the December 7th delegation asked for, it is proof thet the organiza
nounced by Pearson that ‘“‘the government will only pay its share to thos
municipalities which pay 40 cents per hour on relief jobs.’
jority of municipalities the unemployed are working out their relief

these two promises of the government.

basis for the provincial-wide demonstrations on February 4th.

the unemployed workers in all parts of the Province, and especially Bu
the end lead to the same result: “Work without wages for relief.”
from the relief lines.

men are allowed to work for 25 per cent above their relief allowance.

a man who was fired for not doing enough work would be reinstated a)
relief or not. At 2

back on direct relief.”
the wages are based on the present

to the scale of a relief worker. .ore\

| ES
uneninloved, the demiasels of the petition and the central demand ang

|struggle for Unemployment Insurance
and the State!

SEE IER (8h

MILITANT SHINGLE WEAVERS

election. Last November, President-elect Chute, who lacks
the sterling qualities of a Union leader, faced with the in- |
creasing militancy of the shingle weavers on the one hand |
Bengough to hold back the workers —

scale conference in order to prepare de sea

largest mills, had already hinted at
a new wage scale which would / "Se

Vi iat-
Seno

Insurance Proposed by Bennett Is at Expense of

of examination.” Although this small concession is only a fraction Ny

<

tion and the pressure of the workers can bring results. 1t is also anye

2er.
In the-m

less than 40 cents per hour. The Provncial Workers’ Council is callings
upon all its affiliated organizations to take up the struggle for enforcing
There is no doubt that the local
struggles which will take place to enforce these promises will lay a wide

Burnaby Unemployed Workers are still on strike against working for
their relief. In Vancouver a scheme to put into effect the “work for your
relief’’ policy of Bennett, Pattullo and MeGeer has now started. The sov-
ernment, profitinge from the experiences gainceu of the strike struggies ire-

naby, they are now adopting a different method, which, they hope, will itor

¥

te
i Vancouver workers. Should therefore rally to the demand, thil “a 7
public wonks “PrOj=CtS: pay trade union wages in eash, with a gity shtee 4
“minimum wage o> $60.00 -a month.’ A delegation will go to tiopidi”t
Council and presep.,this demand, alone with others, including Nom ~. -
tibutery Unempicyi pat Gusurance. It is intended to make Pebruarjation —
a biz day in this Pi ince, when, alone with the local demands ofwrit-

mediate need of the Canadian workers for Mull and Wree Social Instr for

will rally tens of thousands of workers across all Canada. Porward to*B.C.
*

at the expense of the Employ est

ee
—

f
fe

=

loyal financial. _

two-to-one majority —

.s

~

-

vo
ad

he
re -_
nd
us

a

continuation=
of the struggle for the demands embodied in the petition, which was?-

and most immediate demands of the Ganadian working class—Non-Cor- .-
The Provincial Workers Counc te
which was the driving force for unity of action, made the proposals £9.10
joint action to the ©.C.I". are again in the Jead in developing: Jocal struggiesn
on February 4th in support of the local demands of the unemployed, andie

d

The delegation which went to Victoria last December 7th gained, iol
answer to their petition, only a promise from Minister of Labor Pearsons.
that serious consideration would be given to their problems and especial _
consideration to the question of mothers on relief during the period of
child birth. In a recent statement to the press from Pearson, it is stated
that “all expectant women on relief will receive $5.00 a month nourishment

oo

The South Hill sewer project is made up of men who have volunteered ~
The wages paid are $3.50 per 77-hour day, and the
&
strike took place on this job on Saturday, January 5th because a worker:
was fired for not doing enough work. The men wanted to know whether

p.m. on the day of the strike, Gilbert, the enginecry
notified the men that “if they could not stand the work they would be pie
On this basis the strike was called off. The maiy
thing for the workers to realize is that here is a public works job, whene i
inadequate relief allowance and ie i
this is allowed to continue, all the jobs, including yours, will be: educetr

2

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